Why God Why: Art, Science and endless arguments

Hazy

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Cpt_Oblivious said:
I think they should meet up and be friends. I know it's possible, just think about the Mandelbrot Set.

I think if Science and Art were bridged then we'd have one of two things.
  • A perfect society where we can solve every problem with ScienceArt
    Or
    A screwed up place like Rapture in Bioshock

I reckon it's worth the risk.
And if worst comes to worst, we all go running around shooting Bees and the like out of our forearms.
 

Labyrinth

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unabomberman said:
There is no why, it is just a biological imperative(though then again you may feel compelled to disagree based on whatever philosophical leanings you may have).
And I'm saying that this biological imperative is to make babies with the best set of survival traits. So, the peahens are attracted to what they see as the most excessive, the best peacock through judging its tail, with the idea being that they'll make the healthiest babies. It's not a conscious thing, just as most mating rituals are a matter of the male showing off as much as he can to attract a female.
 

APPCRASH

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As long as their is a gap between art and science, we will always have something to talk about on this slow evenings.
 

fulano

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zen5887 said:
Wow.. I really had no idea there was any 'tension' between Art and Science. As a muscian I have to acknowledge the scientific side to my art and even though I don't understand that side very well, I am aware of how important it is.

In short.

Why can't we just get along.
Nevar. It's a fight to the death.

In all seriousness, how scientific is music? I know there is a method, and harmonics, and tones, etc. but my question is why do you think it qualifies as scientific instead of it being a very elaborate and sophisticated method, but not necessarily scientific?

PS: Yes, it is an actual question, not a rethoric one.
 

Lord Beautiful

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Art is expression. Science is explanation. The two are virtually the same, yet completely opposite. To go into further discussion of the matter would doubtlessly lead to arguments and theories that act as the intellectual equivalent of infinity, at once separate and whole.

However one perceives either determines pretentiousness.
 

Labyrinth

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unabomberman said:
Nevar. It's a fight to the death.

In all seriousness, how scientific is music? I know there is a method, and harmonics, and tones, etc. but my question is why do you think it qualifies as scientific instead of it being a very elaborate and sophisticated method, but not necessarily scientific?

PS: Yes, it is an actual question, not a rethoric one.
A lot of music is maths actually, and those who are very good at maths are often very good at music. There's the experimentation, learning the basics of the craft and from there on up it's a matter of working out for yourself what works and what doesn't.
 

fulano

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Labyrinth said:
unabomberman said:
Nevar. It's a fight to the death.

In all seriousness, how scientific is music? I know there is a method, and harmonics, and tones, etc. but my question is why do you think it qualifies as scientific instead of it being a very elaborate and sophisticated method, but not necessarily scientific?

PS: Yes, it is an actual question, not a rethoric one.

A lot of music is maths actually, and those who are very good at maths are often very good at music. There's the experimentation, learning the basics of the craft and from there on up it's a matter of working out for yourself what works and what doesn't.
No. Music is not maths, as far as I understand it. Music can be expressed as equations and numbers, etc., but that is a matter of notation and/or format.

But back to the peacock. You wrote:
And I'm saying that this biological imperative is to make babies with the best set of survival traits. So, the peahens are attracted to what they see as the most excessive, the best peacock through judging its tail, with the idea being that they'll make the healthiest babies. It's not a conscious thing, just as most mating rituals are a matter of the male showing off as much as he can to attract a female.
But then why bring art into it?
 

zen5887

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unabomberman said:
zen5887 said:
Wow.. I really had no idea there was any 'tension' between Art and Science. As a muscian I have to acknowledge the scientific side to my art and even though I don't understand that side very well, I am aware of how important it is.

In short.

Why can't we just get along.
Nevar. It's a fight to the death.

In all seriousness, how scientific is music? I know there is a method, and harmonics, and tones, etc. but my question is why do you think it qualifies as scientific instead of it being a very elaborate and sophisticated method, but not necessarily scientific?

PS: Yes, it is an actual question, not a rethoric one.
Like I said before, my knowledge of the science of music pretty limited but there are things like frequency, delay (and I don't mean digital delay, working it out my putting the microphones a certan distance away from the source) and some intence time signiture stuff is pretty mathmatical (how can you put a 4/4 melody over a 6/8 beat). Having said all that, I am honestly not sure if that is really 'scientific' rather than 'a very elaborate and sophisticated method'

I am positive that there is some physics in working out the speed of sound which can be used in a musical sence (see delay) but thats all I am sure of.

Good question Mr. unabomberman, I think I will ask one of my lectures about it, he knows everything.
 

Uncompetative

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Labyrinth said:
What then are your experiences with both Arts and Science, and the gulf in between?
I went to Art School to study Painting, but before that I attended a Grammar school that wouldn't let me slack off in the Six-Form and study Classical Civilization & Computer Studies 'O' Levels alongside 'A' level Art and General Studies. I basically wanted to be old enough to go onto a Foundation course in Art & Design which was impossible to get on at 16. However, this 'hothouse' was very keen on getting its pupils to University (even if they didn't want to go...) and the Headmistress forced me to take my two top subjects at 'A' level as I had gotten A's in both Maths and Physics.

I should have left.

However, I am still interested in Cosmology and Quantum Electro-Dynamics, String Theory, M-theory, etc. Mainly because I had plans on writing a Hard Science fiction novel about a Japanese genius who figures out the Theory of Everything and the technology and intrigue that ensues from his discoveries. You know, the whole dangerous idea thing that we had from E = mc^2 and the Manhattan Project.

Since then I have been a programmer, researching language and interface design. Trying to come up with a tool that is frictionless...

I'm interested in Philosophy and Psychology (the notion of 'flow' is central to my work).

I am convinced that Videogames will become a new art form, but that they will not be stories that have games, but games that have a theme which is consistently conveyed through a form of improvised contextual drama (i.e. no human authored script).

So, I am equally interested in Art and Science and can accommodate both mindsets. However, it does lead to endless arguments...

...with myself.
 

bodyklok

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I'll be honest, I had no idea there was even an argument between the two. I for one find it hard to believe there are people who, if there were a fire in a city, would try to rescue the art museum instead of the university. (Yes, I know thats a poor example, but you get the idead)

In my opinion though, that more can be archived by both art and science working together. The creative input of art, and the expressive ability of artists. When combined with the nature of science it's self, have the potential to create amazing things.

That said though, science often calls upon artists to express or illustrate complex things, like the inner workings or atoms, or blacks holes and things like that.
EDIT:
Worgen said:
yay endless arguments, Im going to argue this shit out of this... or I could look at porn.... yeah think its going to be porn
You sir, have the right idea.
 

A random person

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Since I'm a fan of both (leaning towards science, not really serious with art), my favorite art forms are music and video games. Music is very rhythmical, and video games have endless mathematics and computer science (duh!) in them.
 

fulano

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zen5887 said:
unabomberman said:
zen5887 said:
Wow.. I really had no idea there was any 'tension' between Art and Science. As a muscian I have to acknowledge the scientific side to my art and even though I don't understand that side very well, I am aware of how important it is.

In short.

Why can't we just get along.
Nevar. It's a fight to the death.

In all seriousness, how scientific is music? I know there is a method, and harmonics, and tones, etc. but my question is why do you think it qualifies as scientific instead of it being a very elaborate and sophisticated method, but not necessarily scientific?

PS: Yes, it is an actual question, not a rethoric one.
Like I said before, my knowledge of the science of music pretty limited but there are things like frequency, delay (and I don't mean digital delay, working it out my putting the microphones a certan distance away from the source) and some intence time signiture stuff is pretty mathmatical (how can you put a 4/4 melody over a 6/8 beat). Having said all that, I am honestly not sure if that is really 'scientific' rather than 'a very elaborate and sophisticated method'

I am positive that there is some physics in working out the speed of sound which can be used in a musical sence (see delay) but thats all I am sure of.

Good question Mr. unabomberman, I think I will ask one of my lectures about it, he knows everything.
Domo arigato. I'd appreciate if you let me know his oppinion because I'm actually really interested.

Again, thanks.
 

Kinguendo

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Isn't the definition of Art something that serves no practical purpose? Hell, I might even have added that "practical" part.

So yeah, I would have to say Science. After all, it is the difference between drawing on rocks and computer screens.
 

Labyrinth

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unabomberman said:
No. Music is not maths, as far as I understand it. Music can be expressed as equations and numbers, etc., but that is a matter of notation and/or format.

But then why bring art into it?
A [http://www.math.niu.edu/~rusin/uses-math/music/] lot [http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/journal.asp?issn=1745-9737&subcategory=MM100000] of [http://www.maths.abdn.ac.uk/~bensondj/html/music.pdf] evidence [http://sonantometry.blogspot.com/] suggests [http://www.amarilli.co.uk/piano/theory/mus-sci.asp] that [http://www.musimathics.com/] you [http://mathdl.maa.org/convergence/1/?pa=content&sa=viewDocument&nodeId=1313&bodyId=1470] are [http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED388615] in fact wrong in that assumption. Take a look into the background research and then come back to me.

Art was brought into it because it's a similar thing that we humans do, namely, the point I've been trying to get across to you for the last several posts.
 

KingPiccolOwned

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unabomberman said:
Labyrinth said:
unabomberman said:
Nevar. It's a fight to the death.

In all seriousness, how scientific is music? I know there is a method, and harmonics, and tones, etc. but my question is why do you think it qualifies as scientific instead of it being a very elaborate and sophisticated method, but not necessarily scientific?

PS: Yes, it is an actual question, not a rethoric one.

A lot of music is maths actually, and those who are very good at maths are often very good at music. There's the experimentation, learning the basics of the craft and from there on up it's a matter of working out for yourself what works and what doesn't.
No. Music is not maths, as far as I understand it. Music can be expressed as equations and numbers, etc., but that is a matter of notation and/or format.

But back to the peacock. You wrote:
And I'm saying that this biological imperative is to make babies with the best set of survival traits. So, the peahens are attracted to what they see as the most excessive, the best peacock through judging its tail, with the idea being that they'll make the healthiest babies. It's not a conscious thing, just as most mating rituals are a matter of the male showing off as much as he can to attract a female.
But then why bring art into it?
Wait I think that I know why art and science are equally important, and can express it without getting all floaty. Science is necessary for understanding the world that exists around us, thus making it easier to actually survive. Art is important as it is necessary to understand the people which inhabit the world, which is very important to humans as we are HIGHLY social beings even compaired to other social species. That and to me science doesn't seem very well suited to explaining human nature or social dogma without getting confusing.
 

The_Echo

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xxhazyshadowsxx said:
Cpt_Oblivious said:
I think they should meet up and be friends. I know it's possible, just think about the Mandelbrot Set.

I think if Science and Art were bridged then we'd have one of two things.
  • A perfect society where we can solve every problem with ScienceArt
    Or
    A screwed up place like Rapture in Bioshock

I reckon it's worth the risk.
And if worst comes to worst, we all go running around shooting Bees and the like out of our forearms.
I'd prefer bee powers to perfect society.
 

Lazzi

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RAKtheUndead said:
I still reckon that students of the arts are just sore because they realised that they picked subjects full of fluff. Sorry, Labyrinth, but even as somebody who reviews things in his spare time, I have difficulty seeing the usefulness of arts subjects in many occasions.
We need art. Our species is socail and needs extensions of expression. All science and no art make for a painfull amoutn of bianry and no jokes.

Dont get me wrong. I loves me some science. Im suddying enginnering, so Im currently getting rape by science (and liking it).

People need to under stand that there is an ebb of flow ebtweent the two. Science require crativity and random guess to get anywere. While succesfull art requires alot of know how and satistics to work out.
 

sallene

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I dont see how they should even intertwine or be bridged.


There are inherent similarities in the methods humans use and apply to both but that does not make them linked.


To me, Science is expressed as a question and seeks to answer that question(why is the sky blue, what are we made of, are there any other planets like ours out there?, etc..)


Art on the other hand is about expression itself. As humans we use art to express ourselves in ways that other forms of communication cannot.

While art may ask questions also it is always more of an internal questioning as opposed to science which I percieve as more of an external questioning.


Thats how I see it, my opinion and such and so forth....
 

fulano

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Labyrinth said:
unabomberman said:
No. Music is not maths, as far as I understand it. Music can be expressed as equations and numbers, etc., but that is a matter of notation and/or format.

But then why bring art into it?
A [http://www.math.niu.edu/~rusin/uses-math/music/] lot [http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/journal.asp?issn=1745-9737&subcategory=MM100000] of [http://www.maths.abdn.ac.uk/~bensondj/html/music.pdf] evidence [http://sonantometry.blogspot.com/] suggests [http://www.amarilli.co.uk/piano/theory/mus-sci.asp] that [http://www.musimathics.com/] you [http://mathdl.maa.org/convergence/1/?pa=content&sa=viewDocument&nodeId=1313&bodyId=1470] are [http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED388615] in fact wrong in that assumption. Take a look into the background research and then come back to me.

Art was brought into it because it's a similar thing that we humans do, namely, the point I've been trying to get across to you for the last several posts.
Eh...nope. The article, I think--and here we will fundamentally disagree--agreees with me. It is representing music using maths. Which I never said you couldn't do.

Honestly, I could barely understand the symbols the guy used, and even less the musical lingo he drops here and there. But what I could piece together is the following:

Mr. Khramov uses frequences of tonics, which he devides in n-number of parts(and apparently that's an octave), and then he maps them to a function he defined earlier to get an output he refers to as a tune. The function he used is a tonal function. And that's just the abridged version as I understood it.

What he does do, however, beyond getting tonal functions, is give a formula that generates said tonal functions, and that is totally badass.

And yet that doesn't inherently say or prove in any way that music is maths. The paper is only saying that you can represent music using maths.

Just imagine a bunch of kids playing in a regular orchestra; they have their own representations of tonals, sounds, notes, lengths of notes, etc., or maybe they are a rock ensemble and are using tabs for tunes and stuff. We would have to ask ourselves: Are they doing math? The answer is, naturally, no. They are not doing math. They are doing music.

Thoughts?

EDIT: Checking the other links, also, doesn't really make me think what you think. They do not say that music IS math, either. Only that you can establish relationships between them.